DSL / AM Radio Interference

SkyDiver

Senior member
Aug 3, 2000
386
5
81
Hi,

I just moved from cable to 12 Mbps DSL (actually it is Fiber up to my local node). Now, when my wife turns on her AM radio, she hears a lot of static. This is particularly true on the lower end of the "dial," for instance it is much louder at 750kHz than at 1500.

When I shut the router off, the problem disappears. When I turned it on, I went upstairs and actually heard the router beeping through the radio.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any idea how to fix it?

Thanks,
 

QuixoticOne

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2005
1,855
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http://www.audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf


http://www.hamuniverse.com/linksys.html

Basically they suggested:

1) Set all NIC cards to 10 mbps.

2) Coil up extra cable length on a "three finger" form and tape.

3) Disable unused ports.

4) Make certain all connectors are clean and in good condition.

5) Keep the router at least 6 inches from metal objects.

6) Disconnect unused cables.

Get some appropriate ferrite toriods and wind the power cable for the router around the toriod several times or until there is no more slack available in the cord.

Do the coiling / taping bit above gently / delicately with the ethernet cables.

Get a "RFI filter" combined with a surge suppressor / power strip like the TRIPPLITE ISOBAR ULTRA and plug the router's AC power cord into one of the RFI filtered outlets.

Plug the AM radio into another RFI filtered outlet on a different filter strip. Moving the AM radio to a different AC outlet somewhere else in the room / house may help if the noise is coming in over the AC power lines, though doing the above power line filtration steps should cure that problem substantially.

Rotate the radio to see if a position cures the problem.

 

QuixoticOne

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2005
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Also make sure you're using the DSL LINE FILTERS on each of the jacks in the house where you have telephone equipment connected if your DSL setup doesn't filter out the DSL signal from the phone lines going other places in the house at the point of entry / at the modem.

 

SkyDiver

Senior member
Aug 3, 2000
386
5
81
Thanks QuixoticOne.
These all sound like good suggestions. I do have the DSL Line Filters in place. I'll have to look up the "ferrite toriods." I don't have a clue what they are.